Lumber-raft.



LUMBER RAFT. APPLICATION FILED OUT 18 1907.

xu u ll w u Ju N. MoLAUGHLI N.

NEAL MCLAUGHLIN, OF JETHRO, ARKANSAS.

LUMBER-RAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed October 18, 1907. Serial No. 398,093.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEAL MoLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jethro, in the county of Franklin and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Lumber-Raft, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lumber rafts and its object is to provide a raft made up of movably connected sections and which is particularly designed for use in narrow or crooked streams, the same being provided with means whereby it can be readily guided in its course.

Another object is to provide a raft which is so made up that the timbers of which it is constructed will not engage and be stopped by rocks or other obstructions in the path thereof but will instead be deflected.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a raft embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on line ac r, Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A designates the front section of a raft, B an intermediate section, and C a steering section. Each section is made u of a plurality of railroad ties, logs, or ot 161 heavy timbers, which are arranged in two series of diagonally disposed timbers as inclicated by the numerals 1 and 2, the timbers of the two series being dis osed in stepped relation so that the forwar end of each timber is lapped by the forward end of a timber of the a joining section. This arrangement has been clearly indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and it will therefore be seen that should the raft during its forward movement come into contact with any obstruction, the raft will be deflected therefrom, because of the eculiar disposition of the timbers, as there is no part of the raft which can become cau ht upon an obstruction and therefore hold the raft. The timbers of each section are securely fastened together by means of poles 3 which are arranged along the outer ends of the timbers and are fastened to them by means of nails or other securing devices. Another tie device is arranged along the inner ends of the timbers and is preferably formed of a pole 4, which is nailed or otherwise secured to the ends ofthe timbers included within each section. The front section A may be additionally reinforced by means of diagonally arranged ties 5 and parallel longitudinal ties 6, the last mentioned ties being preferably disposed close to and at opposite sides of the central tie 4. Allof the ties of each section are made up of poles which are nailed or otherwise fastened in place. The various sections constituting the raft are spaced apart short distances and are connected by suitable flexible devices such as green poles 7 connected to the central portions of the ends of the sections. By spacing the sections apart it becomes possible for the raft to bend and therefore accommodate itself to the curves of a stream on which it is traveling.

It is to be understood that a raft embodying the present improvements may be made up of any desired numbers of sections and in order that the same may be conveniently guided steering sections are placed at desired intervals within the raft. As indicated at C in Fig. 1 each steering section is constructed in the same manner as is the ordinary section of the raft with the exception that the same is divided transversely into two parts 8 and 9 so as to form an angular space 10. These two parts are connected by parallel diagonally disposed ties 11 nailed or otherwise secured to the sections and by a transverse tie 12 which rests on and is se cured to the ties 3 and 11. An inclined tie 13 is secured to the rear section 8 between each pair of ties 11 and extends upward and is fastened on the cross tie 12. These ties 11, 12 and 13 form openings 14 between the two sections 8 and 9 and these openings are designed to receive steering poles 15 which may be of any preferred form.

What .1s claimed is:

1. A lumber raft consisting of parallel series of timbers, the ends of the timbers be ing disposed in stepped relation and the two series being arranged obliquely to each other, the timbers of each series lapping and contacting with the timbers of the other selies.

2. A lumber raft consisting of parallel series of timbers, the ends of the timbers being disposed in stepped relation and the two series being arranged obliquely to each other, tie devices connecting the timbers of each series, and a single'combined spacing and tie device connected to all the timbers of both series.

3. A raft comprising a plurality of sections, each comprising parallel series of timbers, the ends of the timbers being disposed in stepped relation and the two series eing arranged obliquely to each other, and flexible combined spacing and tie devices connecting the sections.

4. A raft comprising a plurality of sections, each comprising parallel series of timbers, the ends of the timbers being disposed in stepped relation and the two series eing arranged obliquely to each other, and flexible combined spacing and tie devices connecting the sections, said devices constituting spacing means.

5. A lumber raft comprising parallel series of timbers, the timbers of each series having their ends in stepped relation and lapped and contacted by the ends of the timbers of the other series, the timbers of the two series being disposed at'angles to each other, and meins for tying the timbers of the series toget er.

6. A raft section comprising series of timbers, the timbers of each series having their ends in stepped relation and lapped and contacted by the ends of the timbers of the other series, the timbers of the two series being inclined rearwardly from their adjoining ends, tie devices connecting the timbers of each series, and a tie device secured to the timbers of both series.

7. A raft section comprising series of timbers, the timbers of each series having their ends in stepped relation and lapped and contacted by the ends of the timbers of the other series, the timbers of the two series being inclined rearwardly from their adjoining ends, each of said series being sub-divided into spaced sections, and combined spacing and tie devices connected to the sections of each series and forming openings for the reception of steering means.

8. A raft section comprising series of timbers, the timbers of each series having their ends in stepped relation and lapped by the ends of the timbers of the other series, the timbers of the two series being inclined rearwardly from their adjoining ends, each of said series being subdivided into spaced sections, tie devices connected to the sections of each series and forming openings for the reception of steering means, and inclined means secured above the openings and constituting fulcrums for steering devices.

9. A raft comprising a plurality of spaced flexibly connected sections, each section comprising timbers having their inner ends lapping and in stepped relation, said timbers converging forwardly toward and contacting at the centers of the sections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NEAL MOLAUGHLIW.

Witnesses:

W. W. ADAMS, J. D. MoIHvY. 

